Refrigerating apparatus



Jan `5, 1932 K.A WRIGHT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26,.

1927 s sheets-sheet jlb/MMWR.

LEONARD KAY WRIGHT;

b1 SS w ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932. l.. K. WRIGHT 1,339,939

REFRIGERATING VAPPARATUS Filed Jan. 26. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l/V VENTUR LEONARD KAY WRIGHT.

f i I N IF' l A TTHNEY Patented Jan.l 5, 193,24

UNITED STATES LEONARD KAY WRIGHT,

or ASTORIA, NEW Yom:

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application nica January 2s, 1927. serial No.153,661.

This invention relates to an improvedrefrigerating apparatus oftheabsorption type.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple compact constructionof apparatus 5 involving a minimum number' of elements withsubstantially no moving parts and with practically the entire apparatuswelded in a state of permanent rest so as to decrease the effect of wearand tear due to movement and to eliminate waste due to leakage of eitherthe rcfrigerating medium or the cooling liquid.

A further object is to provide an apparatus in which such devices asWater traps, separators,etc., are eliminated and in which the operationcontrolling the How of the refrigerating liquid and the cooling liquid,as well as the applicationeof heat, is automatically controlled by thecondition of the apparatus v A itself so that when once started theapparatus' requires a minimum of attention.

ln general the apparatus comprises a receptac e functioning as anabsorber-genera- F tor in which is disposed a mixture of a re- 2"rigeratling agent and an absorbent therefor such as amixture of waterand ammonia. This generator is connected to another receptaclefunctioning as a condenser-receiver. Both the generator and the receiverare provided 3Q with coilsof p ipe through which flows cool- -ing Huid.Thls flow, however, is alternate i in action and the alternation offlo-w is con# 4t-'rolled by automatic devices. The receiver is connectedto an expansion valve whichQ in turn is connected to a refrigeratingcoil disposed in a refrigerating chamber, .the-other 'end of therefrigerating coil being connected back to the generator.v The generatoris yheated by anysuitable. means such as elec- 40 tric heating means orgas heatingmeans and as the heat is applied the automatic switchingdevice is set to cause the cooling lfluid to flow through thecondenserbut-not throughthe generator. Due to the heat vthe refrgeratingmedium'is gasitied-'and passes to thecon denser through a check valvewhich permits it to pass to the condenser but not reversely. As the gasenters the condenser it iscondensed by contact with the cooling coil.This causes the refrigerating medium to gradually pass from thegenerator to the condenser causing an increase in the pressure of thecondenser. As this pressure increases beyond a predetermined value apressure responsive means associated with the automatic switchingapparatus causes the switch to be thrown to a position in which theheating means is cut oii' and the cooling uid flow is changed from thecondenser to the generator. This causes a cooling to be effected in thegenerator resulting in a drop in pressure in the generator which iscontinued through the refrigerating coils to the expansion valvepermitting said valve to open and allow the refrigerating liquidcondensed in the receiver to pass through the expansion valve. Thisaction results in the expansion of the liquid through the valve to therefrigerating coils and the suckingof said gas back into the generatorby the absorptive inuence of the absorbing a ent therein. The ow of therefrigerant rom the condenser causes a drop in pressure therein and whenthis pressure has reached the predetermined minimum value` thepressureresponsive means causes the switch to throw in the opposite directionturning the heat on to the generator and. changing the low of thecooling fluid from t the generator to the receiver, whereupon the cycleis repeated. 80 It will be noted that in this apparatus the only movingparts are the expansion valve, the check valve and the automatic switchand that the movement of these parts is not continuous and only slightin amount so that the wear on the apparatus is substantially noth-` ing.It will furthermore be noted that the parts which comprise the circuitfor the flow of the refrigerant 'and the cooling uid are i in a state ofpermanent rest so that they can l solidity and compactness ofconstruction and operation and Aby reason of-this state permittingsubstantially no leakage from the system. Provision is .also made thatany water or absorbing medium which passes 'A over from the generatortothe condenser with theA gas is automatically returned to. thegenerator, thus eliminating the necessityfor separators, Water traps,etc,`

be .permanently weldediin place making for section.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-'5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6*(3 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred form of the inventionincludes an absorber-generator tank 10 disposed over acondenser-receiver tank 11, a refrigerating chamber l2 and expansionvalve 13. The generator 10 contains a coil of pipe 14 for the passage ofcooling fluid and the receiver 11 contains a similar coil 15. rlhedischarge ends of both these coils connect to a pipe 16 leadin to anysuitable outlet. It will be noted hat the coil 15 is helical n shape andof large diameter substantiallyy filling the tank 11. The coils 14 and15 are connected respectively by inlet pipes 17 and 18, and the pipesare connected to a three way valve 2O to be further described,

Disposed near the bottom of generator tank 10 is an apertured end 21 ofa pipe 22 leading to the lower end of refrigerating coil 23, disposed inthe refrigerating chamber 12. The upper end of this coil is connected bypipe 24 to the low pressure side of thel eX- p pansion valve 13. rlhehigh pressure side of this expansion valve is connected by pipe 25 whichprojects into the receiver tank 11 to a point near the bottom thereof,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A pipe 26 extends from within the generator10 near the top thereof to the top of receiver tank 11. A check valve 27is interposed in this pipe. The upper end of this pipe within the tank10 is provided with a curved baiile plate 26a.- A pipe 28 'connects topipe 26 between' the check valve 27 and the top ofreceiver tank 11 andhas therein a safety device which may be in the form of a frangiblesilver disc 29 in the event of high pressure being generated in the pipeA gas burner 30 is disposed beneath the generator tank 10 and isconnected by pipe 31 to a one way gas valve 32 to be described further.A pilot light 33 is connected by pipe 34 to the main gas supply pipe `35in which is disposed an automatic shut-oit' device 36 of any standardmake.

Additional and alternative heating means such as electric heatingunits37 and 38 are disposed within the generator tank 10 and connectedby suitable wires 39, 40, 41 and 42 to switch fingers 43 and 46. Powerwires 44 end. This stem bears against and actuates a rable adjustingnuts 69 and 70'on either side is moved one wa or the other beyond aneuand 45 are connected to switch fingers 47 and 48.

The expansion valve has a low pressure chamber 49 and a high pressurechamber 50, a diaphragm 51 backed by spring 52, a valve "l0 stem 53 anda valve ,54. When the pressure in the chamber 49 is below a 'certainvalue the spring 52 forces the diaphragm 51 to open the valve 54 andKallow communication between the chambers 49 and 50.

A small pipe 55 extends from the top of receiver tank 11 to a pressureresponsive device shown in Fig. 4. This device comprises a diaphragm 56having a stem 57 on its upper bell-crank lever 58 restrained'by a spring59. The lever 58 has a pin 60 therein engaging a notch in a lever 61connected by a link 62 to lever 63 which in turn connects to a rod 64.All these elements are mounted within a casing 65. Supported on abracket 66 to the casing is a switch plate 67. rlhis is pivoted on ashaft 68 on the bracket 66 and is aperturedto receive thc end of rod 64with suitthereof. A rod 71 throughthe upper end 4 of the switch arm 67at its opposite ends is connected to springs 72 and 73 to produce thewell known snap action of the arm as the arm 95 tral position. y helower end of the arm 67 is provided with an insulating plate 74 hav-ving contact bars 75 and 76 thereon, adapted respectively to makecontacts between switch fingers 43, 48 and 47, 46.`

`At one end the shaft 68 is connected by collar 77 to shaft 78 of theone-way gas valve 32 which at its upper side connects with gas pipe 31and at itslower side connects with gas inlet pipe 35. At its other endshaft 68 lis 105 connected by collar 79 with the shaft 8O of the two-waycooling fluid valve 20. This valve at the top thereof connects with pipe417; at the bottom thereof connects with pipe 18 and laterally thereofconnects with .t main water inlet pipe 81.

In describing the operation of the device 1 will assume that a mixtureof water and am,- monia, preferably a 30 to 40% solution of ammonia isin tank 10; that the cooling Huid is 115 connected to flow through thecoils 15 in the receiver 11 and that the hea-tinnr element either thegas heating element or the electric heating units are turned on so thatheat is being applied to generator tank 10. This heating of the'generator will result in the production of ammonia gas which will passout through the pipe 26, through the check valve 27 and into the top ofreceiver 11, where it will come in contact with the condensin coils 15and will be condensed into a liqui A continuation of this action willcause the pressure to increase in the condenser 11 to any desired amountwhich in this case is preferably about pounds, an amount slightly 139pressure responsive device shown in Fig. 4.

The movement of this dia hragm will actuate the stem 57 and throng theintermediary of the lever s stem described will snap` the switch plate 6to the right opening the electrical circuit, closing the gas valve andchanging the flow of the cooling fluid from pipe 18 to pipe 17 thusstopping the heating of the generator 10 and applying the coolin actionof the Huid in pipe 14 thereto which w1ll cause a drop in pressure inthe generator 1Q. This drop in pressure will be continued throu h pipe22 and the refrigerating coils 28 to t e low side'of the expansion valvepermitting the valve to open and allow the refrigerant stored underpressure in condenser 11 to fiow through pipe 25 through said valve andexpand 1n the form of a gas and pass through the refrigerating coilsback through pipe 22 into the generator absorber 10. This action isfurther accelerated by the ainity of the absorbent in the generator 10for the refrigerant.

As soon as the pressure in the condenser 11 drops a predetermined amountthe pressure responsive device shown in Fig. 4 will act by the droppingof the diaphragm 56 to throw the switch in the opposlte directionturning on the heating apparatus and switching the flow-of vcoolingfluid from the enerator 10 to the condenser l1. It will be o served thatas soon as the pressure is reduced sufficiently far in the generator 10to permit the expansion valve to open the first medium to pass throughthe pipe fromthe bottom of condenser 11 will be any Water whichvhasinadvertently passed intoV the condenser from the generator although thebaille plate 26a is intended to eliminate this passage of water as muchas possible. The water will-flow first by reason of its greater densitythan ammonia and will consequently be returned to the generator .beforethe ammonia has com-- menced any cooling action in the coils 23.

The check lvalve 27 will prevent a back flow of gas from the condenserto the enerator and the safety device 29 will break i too higha-pressure is inadvertently generated in the system either in thegenerator or condenser. The automatic shut-off device 36 is of standardtype to shut ofl'the 'low of gas if the pilot 25 should go out.

It is therefore quite noticeable that this apparatus has a minimumnumber of moving parts and that the movement of these parts is veryslight and only occurs at infrequent intervals so that the wear and teardue to any movement is substantially nil. Furthermore it is quiteapparent that practically the entire apparatus can be welded in aposition of rest makingthose parts of the system that transmit gas orfluid capable of being sealed tight so that leakage is reduced to zero.The fact that the number of parts is reduced to a .minimum,` eliminatingthe necessity -for water-traps, separators and cumbersome motordrivenapparatus, permits the entire assembly to be arranged in a verycompact form. l Preferably the generator is at the top because the heatfrom the burner -naturally iiowing upward will immediately pass awayfrom the other apparatus and in so doing cause a natural draft of coolair from the bottom .around the other apparatus tending to increase`they efficiency. Although not v shown, a casing is firmly built aroundthe parts illustrated with apertures in the top and bottom .tofacilitate this natural draft of cool air upwards through the assembly.

It is of course apparent that other refrigerating media than a water andammonia solution can be used and it is within my contemplation to usemedia which are solids at normal temperatures if desired. Furthermore itis apparent that the medium which is being cooled by disposition in orcirculation through the. refrigcrating chamber 12 may be any desiredmedium.

This application is a continuation in part of mv co-pending application,Serial Number 118.275, filed June 24. 1926, entitled Refrigeratingapparatus, in Division 44, Room 253.

I claim: l

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising anY absorber-generator, a,condenser-receiver, coils for cooling the generator and receiver, meansfor heating the generator, means for automatically starting and stoppingthe application of heat and controlling the cooling means, and meansresponsive to pressure in the condenser-receiver for operating theautomatic controller.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, acondenser-receiver, means for cooling the generator and receiver, meansincluding electricity for heating-the generator, means for automaticallystarting and stopping the application of heat and controlling thecooling means, and means responsive to pressure generated in thecondenser receiver for operating the automatic controller.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, acondenser-receiver, cooling coils in the generator and receiver, meansfor controlling the alternate introduction of cooling fluid to the coilsin said generator and receiver, and means responsive t'o denser-receiverfor alternately heating and cooling the absorber-generator, connectionbetween the generator and the receiver, a safety valve in saidconnection, refrigerating coils, a connection between the refrigeratingcoils and the generator, connections between the receiver and therefrigerating coils, and an expansion valve in said last mentionedconnection.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorbergenerator, acondenser-receiver, means responsive to the pressure in thecondenser-receiver for alternately heating and cooling theabsorber-generator, connections between the generator and the receiver,refrigerating coils, a connection between the re- 'trigerating coils andthe generator, connections between the receiver and the refrigeratingcoils, anexpansion valve in said last mentioned connection, theconnections from the refrigerating coils to the generator and receiverextending to the bottom of each respectively.

(i. A refrigerating apparatus. comprising an absorber-generator, acondenser-receiver, means responsive to the pressure in thecondenser-receiver for alternately heating and coolingr theabsorber-generator, a connection extending from the top of the generatorto the top of the receiver, refrigerating coils, a connection extendingfronrthe bottom of the refrigerating coils to the bottom of thegenerator, a connection between the bottom of the receiver and the topofthe refrigerating coils and an expansion valve in said last mentionedconnection.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an ,absorbergenerator, acondenser-receiver, means for heating the yabsorbergenerator, separatemeans in the generator and condenser for cooling the same, an automaticswitch for controlling the heating means and for alternately applyingthe cooling means to the absorberand condenser-receiver, and meansresponsive to pressure in the condenser for actuating ythe switch, aconnecl tion between the top of the generator and the top of thereceiver, refrigerating colis, a connection between the bottom of thereceiver and the top of the refrigerating coils, a connection betweenthe bottom of the refrigerating coils andthe bottom of the generator andan expansion valve disposed in the connection between the receiver andthe refrigerating coils.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, acondenser-receiver Adisposed therebelow, means for heating theabsorber-generator disposed at the bottom thereof, separate means in thegenerator and condenser for cooling the same, an automatic switch forcontrolling the heating means and for alternately applying the coolingmeans to the absorber and condenser-receiver, said switch disposedadjacent the receiver, and

tion between the bottom of the refrigerating coils and the bottom of thegenerator and an expansion valve disposed in the connection between thereceiver and the refrigerating coils. i

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a mixtureof an absorbent and a refrigerant therein, means for heating thegenerator to volatilize the refrigerant, cooling means in the generatorand the receiver, connections between the generator and receiver, anexpansion valve, means for passing the condensed refrigerant underpressure through the expansion valve, refrigerating coils, connectionsbetween the bottom of said coils and valve, connections between therefrigerating coils and the generator, controlling means for cuttingofi' the heat from the generator and simultaneously switching thecooling action to the generator from the receiver when the pressure inthe receiver reaches a predetermined high value and for reversing saidaction when the pressure'in the-receiver falls to a pre-determined lowlvalue.

10. A retrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, a.condenser-receiver, connections therebetween, a cooling means in thegenerator, cooling means in the receiver, means responsive to pressurein the receiver,

ytor switching the application of cooling fluid from the generator tothe receiver `and vice versa, said pressure responsive means arranged toapply cooling fiuifd to the generator when the pressure in the receiverexceeds a predetermined amount.

ll. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an absorber-generator, acondenser-receiver, connections therebetween, a cooling means in thegenerator, cooling means in the receiver, means responsive to pressurein the receiver for switching the application of cooling fluid fram thegenerator to the receiver and vice versa, said pressure responsive meansarranged to apply cooling iiuid to the generator when the pressure inthe receiver exceeds a predetermined amount, means for heating thegenerator, said heating means being controlled by the pressureresponsive meansand adapted to be cut oft' when the pressure in thereceiver exceeds a predetermined amount. l

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this24th day `of January, A. vD. 1927.

